2026 NFL Scouting Combine Set for Late February

- The event has a significant financial impact on its host city, with the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine generating $9.26 million in economic impact for Indianapolis from more than 30,000 visitors and fans. - Before the first combined camp in 1982, individual teams had to schedule and pay for private player visits, an inefficient and expensive process. The camps were merged in 1985 to create a single, centralized evaluation event and reduce costs for the then-28 NFL teams. - The combine has evolved into a significant media property; it was first televised in 2004, and the 2024 event reached over 5 million viewers on the NFL Network. In 2019, ESPN and ABC also began broadcasting portions of the workouts, expanding the event's media footprint. - Corporate sponsorship is a key revenue stream, with athletic training company NOBULL signing a multi-year deal to become the official training partner and on-field apparel supplier starting in 2023. Previously, Under Armour held the rights in a deal reportedly valued at $10-15 million annually. - Player invitations are determined by a Player Selection Committee, which includes professional talent evaluators from scouting services like BLESTO and National Football Scouting. The committee's objective is to invite every player who is expected to be drafted. - Indianapolis has been the permanent host city since 1987 due to its logistical efficiency, including connected facilities like the convention center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and hotels. The NFL has used a bidding process in the past with cities like Dallas and Los Angeles, but Indianapolis's current contract runs through 2028.